Aligned-lever buckle mechanism



Jan. 4, 1966 Filed Feb. 1, 1965 A. G CARTER ALIGNED-LEVER BUCKLEMECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 ANDREW s. when INVENTOR.

Jan. 4, 1966 A. G. CARTER 3,226,791

ALIGNED-LEVER BUCKLE MECHANISM Filed Feb. 1, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR: ANDREW s. CARTER Y Atty.

1966 A. G. CARTER 3,226,791

ALIGNED-LEVER BUCKLE MECHANISM Filed Feb. 1, 196? 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 a Illrlnzrllllzulillllll INVENTOR:

ANDREW G. CARTER BY 4 2 W Any.

Jan. 4, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 1, 1963 .Illia I! INVENTOR:ANDREW G. CARTER \\\\\\\\\\\\\\s m cm an m a No t n u r w u F r N h :LLI A m a n AHy.

Jan. 4, 1966 ALIGNED-LEVER BUCKLE MECHANISM Filed Feb. 1, 1963 5Sheets-Sheet 5 A. G. CARTER 3,226,791

ANDREW 'G. CARTER INVENTOR United States Patent 3,226,791 ALIGNED-LEVERBUCKLE MECHANISM Andrew G. Carter, 2930 Lake Drive SE., Grand Rapids,Mich.

Filed Feb. 1, 1963, Ser. No. 255,587 7 Claims. (Cl. 24-230) Thisinvention relates to the construction of safety belt buckles of the typeactuated by a pivoted lever. This type of mechanism is well-established,and the movement of the lever is normally used to disengage the lockingmechanism to permit separation of the sections of the movement, inaddition to establishing the normal locking buckle. In the preferredform of the invention the lever positions a cam which normally maintainsthe lateral interengagement of abutments and recesses on the oppositesections of the buckle, respectively, for the transmission of forcesresulting from belt tension. Several features of the invention are alsoapplicable to the dogtype mechanism, in which a movable biased latch onone buckle section engages a recess or abutment on the opposite bucklesection. Applicant has always found it preferable to transmit the beltforces through components that are fixed to the respective beltsections, rather than movable. This arrangement keeps the lockingmechanism relatively free from forces resulting from belt tension, andremoves the need to overcome high friction complications on releaseunder load. This is the (factor accounting for the preferencein favor ofthe cam-type mechanism.

While the use of lever-actuated buckle mechanism is well known in thisart, it has been the practice to mount the lever for pivot movement insuch a direction that a large component of the manual release forcetends to pull the buckle section containing the mechanism in thedirection of normal belt tension, particularly when the lever is nearthe full release position. In other words, the buckle sections may beunlocked, but the release force on the lever continues to hold one beltsection closely about the wearer. In normal release (as opposed to crashconditions), the relatively light belt tension is thus taken on one sideof the belt. There usually is insufficient tension remaining in theopposite side to pull the unlocked buckle sections apart, and the resultis to make disengagement of the belt a two-handed procedure.

The factor responsible for this characteristic of conventional levermechanisms is that the pivot shaft sup porting the lever has usuallybeen coaxial with rotatively mounted cams or latch dogs, and these haveuniformly been placed on the side of one buckle section which isnormally closest to the opposite buckle section. The handle lever hasnormally extended back along the belt from the pivot point, whichestablishes the geometrical relationship of the conventional levermechanism. As such a lever swings outward on release, it also movestoward the opposite side on the belt against the action of the leverreturn spring.

It is the purpose of this invention to realign the movement of the leverso that the manual forces applied to it near the release position willtend to throw the buckle sections apart, rather than hold them together.Disen:

gagement of an occupant from the belt then becomes a tions. Engagementof the buckle sections (without swinging out the handle) obviouslyinvolves a rotation of the cam in a direction which is opposite to themovement of the cam induced by the handle as it swings to the releaseposition. Accommodating this dual direction of position of the cam,therefore becomes an important aspect of the preferred form of thisinvention.

A modified form of the invention provides for the desired alignment ofthe lever movement by eliminating the coaxial relationship between thecam and the bandle pivot, and providing for a torque transfer from thelever over to the rotatable cam. In both forms of the invention,applicant has found it desirable to separate the portion of the buckleserving as an adjustable belt terminal from that which contains theactive locking mechanism of the buckle. By displacing the adjustableterminal to a position further down the belt section, the mass normallyassociated with that portion of the device is removed from the lap ofthe wearer. This is.

chinery in the lap. Anything tending to reduce this will substantiallyincrease the saleability and use of safety belt equipment.

As a means of reducing the torque of the lever-return spring, and thusminimizing the forces necessary to actuate'the mecahnism, the inventionalso provides a counter-balancing of the lever which will tend tominimize the tendency for crash inertia to throw the lever to releaseposition. The counterbalance arrangement therefore may permit the use ofa very light return spring without sacrifice of safety, and thereforefurther favor the use of the safety belt by persons who normally justdont care to manipulate this equipment.

The several features of the invention will be discussed in furtherdetail through an analysis of the particular embodiments illustrated inthe accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded view showing the buckle sections disengaged.

FIGURE 2 shows a plan view of the buckles in the engaged condition, withthe lever swung back beyond the normal release position to expose theinterior mechanism.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional elevation showing the buckle sections in thefully engaged and locked condition.

FIGURE 4 shows the buckle sections released.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional elevation showing an intermediate position inthe engagement of the buckle sections.

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of a separate adjustable belt terminal of amodified form of the invention.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional elevation of the terminal on the plane 77 ofFIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a plan view showing the engaged buckle sections of themodification of the invention associated with the separate beltterminal.

FIGURE 9 is a sectional elevation on the of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 10 is a sectional elevation of a modified form of the inventionin which the lever is mounted on a shaft plane 9-9 which is not coaxialwith the locking cams, with the device in the fully locked condition.

FIGURE 11 is a view of the release position of the mechanism shown inFIGURE 10.

fixed bar 33 and the, movable bar 34 of generally rectangular crosssection. The bars 33 and 34 together form. an adjustable terminalwhereby the length of the belt may be adjusted to suit the needs of theparticular oc-- cupant. The belt can be tightened by pulling on the freeend 35. The length can be increased by pulling on the: belt 21 while theopposite knurled, ends. of the bar 34- are grasped between. the fingersto. separate the bar 34- from the relatively fixed bar 33. Application.of tension to the belt will then cause the bar 3,4 to move toward.

the bar 33, and entrap a portion of the belt between" them in a jammingactionv sufiiciently severe to resist belt tension.- 7

The buckle section 30 includes a central plate portion. 36 whichcontains the abutments 28 and 29, and is alsoprovidedwith a slot 36a forreceiving the belt 37. The: spaced side flanges 38 and 39 include thelanced portions. 40 and 41 providing offsets extending inwardly toward.the center of the device to function as stops for estab-- lishing thenormal position of the handle lever 42. Theflange 39 has the circularhole. 43 for rotatably receiving". the shaft 44, and the flange 38, hasa D-shaped hole 45' which nonrotatably receives the shaft in one angularposition. The shaft 44 has a flat along one side indicated at 46, and anotch 47 intersecting one edge of the flat 46, as new best in FIGURE 1.The functioning of this portion of the structure will be clarified asthe description of the mechanism proceeds.

A cam unit 48 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 44, and includes theopposit end-sections 49 and 50 interconnected by the bar 51. The normalfunctioning of the cam member 48 is best illustrated in FIGURE 3. In;locked position, the end portions 49 and 50, together with the cross bar51, extend across the tongue 22 to maintain the interengagement of theapertures 25 and 26 with the abutments 28 and 29.

The normal position of the cam unit 48 is determined as a result of theinteraction of the cam spring 52 and the engagement of the stops 53-54on the lever 42 with the surfaces 5556 on the cam unit 48 In otherwords, the action of the relatively light spring 52 is to apply a gentlerotary biasing action to the cam member 48 with respect to the lever.This rotative resilience of the cam member with respect to the lever inone direction permits the insertion movement shown in FIGURE 5. Theinsertion is accompanied by a movement of the tonque 22 of the bucklesection over the top of the abutments, and this must be accompanied by acounterclockwise rotation of the cam member (as shown in FIGURE 5) whichis sufficient to permit the tongue 22 to pass underneath the bar 51 andthe end portions 49 and 50. As the tongue 22 moves into the bucklesection 30 to the point Where the apertures and 2.6 can drop down overthe abutments 23 and 29, the upper surface of the tongue 22 comes downinto close approximation to coplanar relationship with the top of theabutments. In this position, the action of the spring 52 can rotate thecam member 48 from the displaced condition shown in FIGURE 5 to that ofthe fully locked position shown in FIGURE 3. This action can take placewithout displacement of the lever 42. It should be noted that the fixedend of the spring 52 is a portion of constricted diameter shown at 57which conforms to the D-shaped cross section of the shaft 44, andclosely embraces it in a non-rotative relationship. The remainder of thespring 52 is rotatable with respect to the shaft 44. The end 58 of thespring engages the cross bar 51 of the cam member as best shown inFIGURE 2.

The spring 59 also surrounds the shaft 44, and functions to bias thelever to the position shown in FIGURE 3, applying a counterclockwisetorque, as shown in the drawings. The spring 59 is similar inconstruction to the spring 52, except that it will normally be made ofheavier wire to apply a stronger biasing action. The fixed end of thespring consists of a portion of reduced diameter shown at 60 whichconforms to the cross section of the shaft 44, and holds it securely innonrotative relationship. The opposite end of this spring 61 engages theedge of the abutment 62 which is integral with the lever 42, and extendsfrom the panel portion 63 to a position close to the shaft 44, withinsufiicient clearance for the free end 61 to slip out of engagement.The abutment 64 is also preferable in this arrangement, and fullyembraces the shaft 44 with freedom of rotation. The abutment 64 isprimarily for the purpose of maintaining the relative position of theabutment 62 and the shaft 44, and this structure is readily adaptableeither to a die-cast or molded construction of the entire lever handle42. In the event that molded plastic is used for the lever 42 themetallic bearing inserts shown at 65 and 66 are recommended forinsertion into the ends 67 and 68, which establish the pivotal mountingof the lever with respect to the shaft 44 (in conjunction with theabutment 64). The surfaces 69 and 70 at the opposite ends of the lever42, respectively, operate in conjunction with the lanced offsets 4t) and41 to establish the normal angular position of the lever shown in FIGURE3, against the action of the spring 59. Recesses as shown at 71 inFIGURE 1 are associated with each of these shoulder surfaces 69 and 70to provide clearance for rotation of the lever so that the stops 40 and41 will not interfere with rotation of the lever to the releaseposition.

As the lever is swung to the release position shown in FIGURE 4, the cammember 48 .can follow this rotation under the action of the spring 52,or the cam member may be held initially in the FIGURE 3 position, ifsubetantial forces are acting against it from the tongue 22. In thelatter case, the rotation of the handle proceeds until the edge 72 comesinto engagement with the ends 49 and St! at the points indicated at 73and 74 in FIGURE 1. The handle forces will then easily overcome theresistance against the rotation of the cam member, and the device .canbe moved to the FIGURE 4 position to permit release of the bucklesection 20 from the buckle section 30, It should be noted that the fullrelease position of the lever 42 shown in FIGURE 4 represents a swingingmovement beyond the perpendicular to a line connecting the beltterminals on the opposite buckle sections. This movement exceeds ninetydegrees, in the preferred form of the invention, and carries the leverbeyond the position where inertia forces would conceivably bring it.

The assembly of the device is interesting in one particular, and thisdeals with the establishment of the necessary initial torsion in thesprings 52 and 59. The procedure initially involves placing the lever sothat the inserts and 66 are in axial alignment with the holes 43 and 45,and the shaft 44 may then be inserted through the hole 43 and the insert65. At this point, the shaft 44 is engaged with the spring 52, with theend 58 properly hooked over the cross bar 51 of the cam unit. Theangular position of the shaft 44 is selected for proper engagement withthe fixed end 57, and the shaft is then forced through this portion ofthe spring and through the beari-ng hole in the abutment 64. The shaftcan then be given sufiicient turns in a clockwise direction to establishthe desired initial torsion in the spring 52, with an additional amountof turns in a clockwise direction corresponding to the amount of initialset of the spring 59. The shaft 44 may then be axially engaged with theend 61 of the spring 59, with the end 61 properly positioned withrespect to the abutment 62. Prior to the engagement of the shaft 44 withthe flange 38, the shaft is rotated in a counterclockwise direction anamount corresponding to the initial torque of the spring 59. The flat4-6 of the shaft is then aligned with the D-hole 45, and the shaft 44moved axially into engagement with the flange 30 to the point that thenotch 47 will embrace the thickness of the flange. The shaft is thenreleased, and is thereby fixed against axial displacement in eitherdirection.

Referring to FIGURES 6 through 9, the modification of the inventionillustrated in these views is preferable wherever it is desirable tominimize the weight of the buckle mechanism on the lap of the wearer.The adjustable terminal assembly generally indicated at 75 isdissociated from the tongue 76 which is releasably locked to the bucklesection 77. The tongue plate 76 is connected to the adjustable terminalunit by a fixed length of belting shown at 78. It is preferable that aspacing of approximately eight inches be established between theterminal assembly 75 and the tongue plate 76, which normally places theterminal assembly far enough off the lap of the wearer so that it is nolonger objectionable. The fixed cylindrical bar 79 and the movable bar80 correspond to the bars 33 and 34, respectively, shown in FIGURE 1.The side flanges 81 and 82 serve the same function as the flanges 23 and24 of the FIGURE 1 assembly, respectively. The tension portion 83.0f thebelt and the free end 84 are arranged in the same relationship aspreviously described.

The buckle section 77 is normally connected to the belt section 85, andcontains a cam-type locking mechanism of the type shown and described inFIGURE 1 and the related views, with the exception that the handle lever86 has a counterbalance feature in which a balance Weight 87 is added tobring the centerof gravity as close as possible to a plane containingthe axis of the shaft 83, and which is perpendicular to the centralplate portion '89 of the buckle section 77. In this arrangement, inertiaforces encountered during a crash will have no substantial tendency torotate the handle lever 86 in a clockwise direction to cause accidentalrelease. In FIGURE 9, the lanced portions '90 and 91 serve the samepurpose as the portions 40 and 41 in IFIGURE l. The flanges 92 and 93are equivalent to the flanges 38 and 39, respectively, in FIGURE 1.

FIGURES l0 and 11 illustrate a modified form of the invention in whichan aligned movement of the lever is provided by using a non-coaxialrelationship between the cam member and the lever pivot. The bucklesection 94 has spaced side flanges 95 which position the D- shaped levershaft 96, together with the lever-return spring 97. The cam member 98 isrotat-ably mounted on the shaft 99, which is also positioned by theflanges 95, with the shaft 9'9 carrying the cam spring 100. In theposition shown in FIGURE 10, the cam prevents the disengagement of thetongue plate 101 of the opposite buckle section from the abutments 102cmthe plate portion 193 of the buckle section 94. The handle 104 hasspaced s-idefi-anges as shown at 105 received between the flanges 95,and a rod 106 is fixed with respect to the flanges 105. Rotation of thehandle 104 in a clockwise direction about the shaft 96 will carry therod 106 upwardly, and the engagement of this rod with the extensions 107on the cam member 98 will induce counterclockwise rotation to therelease position shown in FIG- URE 11. The edges 108 of the flanges 105can be used as stops to establishing the full release position of thelever, with these edges disposed to engage the plate 103 in the releaseposition. Slots 109 may be provided in the flanges 95 to accommodatebars for an adjustable belt terminal, as described in connection withthe views discussed previously.

The particular embodiments of the present invention which have beenillustrated and discussed herein are for illustrative purposes only andare not to be considered as a limitation upon the scope of the appendedclaims. In these claims, it is my intent to claim the entire inventiondisclosed herein, except as I am limited by the prior art. t I claim:

1. A buckle assembly, comprising:

first and second buckle sections each having belt-receiving means,portions of said buckle sections being receivable one within the other,respectively;

interengageable abutments on said portions, respectively, said abutmentmeans being engageable and separable in a direction transverse to a lineconnecting said belt-receiving means;

'a shaft normally fixed to the outer of said buckle sections adjacentsaid abutments,

said shaft having an axially-extending peripheral discontinuity;

a cam member rotatably mounted on said shaft, said cam member havingportions disposed in a selected angular position thereof to maintain theinterengagement of said abutments, and being rotatable in op positedirection from said selected position to positions providing for releaseand engagement of said abutments;

a lever rotatably mounted on said shaft, and having stop meansinterengageable with portions of said cam member to limit the rotationof said cam member with respect to said lever to establish a limitedsector of freedom of movement, said lever being rotatable from a normalposition extending from said shaft toward the belt-receiving meansassociated with the inner of said buckle sections, said lever beingrotatable to a release position through a sector in excess of ninetydegrees bringing said cam member to release position;

a lever-biasing helical spring surrounding said shaft and having one endthereof securely engaging the discontinuity of said shaft, the oppositeend of said spring engaging the said lever urging the said lever to thesaid normal position thereof; and

a cam-biasing helical spring surrounding said shaft and having one endthereof securely engaging the discontinuity of said shaft, the oppositeend of said spring engaging the said cam member urging said cam memberin the direction of rotation of said lever toward said release position,one of said stop means positioning said cam member against the action ofsaid cam spring at said selected angular position when said lever is atsaid normal position;

the said sector of freedom of movement of said cam member with respectto said lever being selected to provide for suflicient rotation of saidcam member to provide clearance for the engagement of said abutmentswithout substantial rotation of said lever from the said normal positionthereof. 2. A buckle assembly, comprising:

first and second buckle sections each having belt-receiving means,portions of said buckle sections being receivable one within the other,respectively;

interengageable abutments on said portions, respectively, said abutmentmeans being engageable and separable in a direction transverse to a lineconnecting said belt-receiving means;

a shaft normally fixed to the outer of said buckle sections adjacentsaid abutments;

said shaft having an axially-extending peripheral discontinuity;

a cam member rotatably mounted on said shaft, said cam member havingpositions disposed in a selected angular position thereof to maintainthe interengagemerit of said abutments, and being rotatable in oppositedirection fromsaid selected position to positions providing for releaseand engagement of said abutments;

a lever rotatably mounted on said shaft, and having stop meansinterengageable with portions of said cam member to limit the rotationof said cam member with respect to said lever to establish a limited sector of freedom of movement, said lever being rotatable from a normalposition extending from said shaft toward the belt-receiving meansassociated with the inner of said buckle sections, said lever beingrotatable to a release position bringing said cam member to releaseposition;

a lever -biasing helical spring surrounding said shaft and havingone-end thereof securely engaging the discontinuity of said shaft, theopposite end of said spring engaging the said lever urging the saidlever to the said normal position thereof; and

a cam-biasing helical spring surrounding said shaft and having one endthereof securely engaging the discontinuity of said shaft, the oppositeend of said spring engaging the said cam member urging said cam memberin the direction of rotation of said lever toward said release position,one of said stop means positioning said cam member against the action ofsaid cam spring at said selected angular position when said lever is atsaid normal position,

the said sector of freedom of movement of said cam member with respectto said lever being selected to provide for sufficient rotation of saidcam member to provide clearance for the engagement of said abutmentswithout substantial rotation of said lever from the said normal positionthereof.

3. A buckle assembly, comprising:

first and second buckle sections each having belt-receiving means,portions of said buckle sections being receivable one within the other,respectively;

interengageable abutments on said portions, respectively, said abutmentmeans being engageable and separable in a direction transverse to a lineconnecting said belt-receiving means;

a shaft normally fixed to the outer of said buckle sections adjacentsaid abutments,

said shaft having an axially-extending peripheral discontinuity;

a cam member rotatably mounted-on said shaft, said cam member havingportions disposed in a selected angular position thereof to maintain theinterengagement of said abutments, and being rotatable to positionsproviding for release and engagement of said abutments;

a lever rotatably mounted on said shaft, and having stop meansinteren'gageable with portions of said cam member to limit the rotationof said cam member with respect to said lever to establish a limitedsector of freedom of movement, said lever being rotatable from a normalposition extending from said shaft toward the belt-receiving meansassociated with the inner of said buckle sections, said lever beingrotatable to a release position bringing said cam member to releaseposition;

a lever-biasing helical spring surrounding said shaft and having one endthereof securely engaging the discontinuity of said shaft, the oppositeend of said spring engaging the said lever urging the said lever to thesaid normal position thereof; and

a cam-biasing helical spring surrounding said shaft and having one endthereof securely engaging the discontinuity of said shaft, the oppositeend of said spring engaging the said cam member urging said cam memberin the direction of rotation of said lever toward said release position,one of said stop means positioning said cam member against the action ofsaid cam spring at said selected angular position when said lever is atsaid normal position.

4. A buckle assembly, comprising:

first and second buckle sections each having belt-receiving means,portions of said buckle sections being receivable one within the other,respectively;

interengageable abutments on said portions, respectively, said abutmentmeans being engageable and separable in a direction transverse to a lineconnecting said belt-receiving means;

V a shaft normally fixed to the outer of said buckle sections adjacentsaid abutments;

a cam member rotatably mounted on said shaft, said cam member havingportions disposed in a selected angular position thereof to maintain theinterengagement of said abutments, and being rotatable to positionsproviding for release and engagement of said abutments;

a lever rotatably mounted on said shaft, and having stop meansinterengageable with portions of said cam member to limit the rotationof said cam member with respect to said lever to establish a limitedsector of freedom of movement, said lever being rotatable from a normalposition extending from said shaft toward the belt-receiving meansassociated with the inner of said buckle sections, said lever beingrotatable to a release position bringing said cam member to releaseposition;

a lever-biasing spring urging the said lever to the said normal positionthereof; and

a cam-biasing spring urging said cam member in the direction of rotationof said lever toward said release position, one of said stop meanspositioning said cam member against the action of said cam spring atsaid selected angular position when said lever is at said normalposition.

5. A buckle mechanism, comprising:

a frame having spaced flanges;

a shaft rotatably engaging one of said flanges, and nonrotatablyengaging the other of said flanges;

a lever and a locking member mounted on said shaft rotatably withrespect to each other and to said frame;

a lever spring surrounding said shaft and having one end thereofrotatively fixed with respect to said shaft; and the opposite endthereof engaging said lever; and

a locking member spring surrounding said shaft and having one endthereof rotatively fixed with respect to said shaft and the opposite endthereof engaging said locking member, said springs applying oppositebiasing to said lever andlocking member, respectively.

6. In a structure as described, the combination of:

a frame having spaced flanges;

a shaft engaging said flanges;

means engageable with said shaft to fix the same rotatably with respectto said frame;

a lever and a locking member mounted on said shaft rotatably withrespect to each other and to said frame;

a lever spring surrounding said shaft and having one end thereofrotatively fixed with respect to said shaft, and the opposite endthereof engaging said lever; and

a locking member spring surrounding said shaft and having one endthereof rotatively fixed with respect to said shaft and the opposite endthereof engaging said locking member, said springs applying oppositebiasing to said lever and locking member, respectively.

7. In a structure as described, the combination of:

a frame;

a shaft mounted on said frame;

means engageable with said shaft to fix the same rotatably with respectto said frame;

first and second members mounted on said shaft rotatably with respect toeach other and to said frame;

a spring surrounding said shaft and having one end thereof rotativelyfixed with respect to said shaft, and the opposite end thereof engagingsaid first member; and

a spring surrounding said shaft and having one end thereof rotativelyfixed with respect to said shaft and the opposite end thereof engagingsaid second mem- 9 her, said springs applying opposite biasing to said2,948,939 members, respectively. 2,965,942 2,999,288 References Cited bythe Examiner 3,029,487 UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 3,078,538 1,532,5114/1925 Meltz. 1,680,706 8/1928 Tost. 2,522,790 9/1950 Johnston.1,122,386 2,710,999 6/1955 Davis 24-197, 877,207 2,862,268 12/1958Cushman 2475 10 2,916,786 12/1959 Legat. 2,933,795 4/1960 Meeker.

Prete 24--171 Carter. Warner.

4/ 1962 Asai.

2/ 1963 Brown 24-230 FOREIGN PATENTS 9/1956 France. 9/1961 GreatBritain.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner. DONLEY I. STCCKING, Examiner.

1. A BUCKLE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING: FIRST AND SECOND BUCKLE SECTIONS EACHHAVING BELT-RECEIVING MEANS, PORTIONS OF SAID BUCKLE SECTIONS BEINGRECEIVABLE ONE WITHIN THE OTHER, RESPECTIVELY; INTERENGAGEABLE ABUTMENTSON SAID PORTIONS, RESPECTIVELY, SAID ABUTMENT MEANS BEING ENGAGEABLE ANDSEPARABLE IN A DIRECTION TRANSVERSE TO A LINE CONNECTING SAIDBELT-RECEIVING MEANS; A SHAFT NORMALLY FIXED TO THE OUTER OF SAID BUCKLESECTIONS ADJACENT SAID ABUTMENTS, SAID SHAFT HAVING AN AXIALLY-EXTENDINGPERIPHERAL DISCONTINUITY; A CAM MEMBER ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT,SAID CAM MEMBER HAVING PORTIONS DISPOSED IN A SELECTED ANGULAR POSITIONTHEREOF TO MAINTAIN THE INTERENGAGEMENT OF SAID ABUTMENTS, AND BEINGROTATABLE IN OPPOSITE DIRECTION FROM SAID SELECTED POSITION TO POSITIONSPROVIDING FOR RELEASE AND ENGAGEMENT OF SAID ABUTMENTS; A LEVERROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT, AND HAVING STOP MEANS INTERENGAGEABLEWITH PORTIONS OF SAID CAM MEMBER TO LIMIT THE ROTATION OF SAID CAMMEMBER WITH RESPECT TO SAID LEVER TO ESTABLISH A LIMITED SECTOR OFFREEDOM OF MOVEMENT, SAID LEVER BEING ROTATABLE FROM A NORMAL POSITIONEXTENDING FROM SAID SHAFT TOWARD THE BELT-RECEIVING MEANS ASSOCIATEDWITH THE INNER OF SAID BUCKLE SECTIONS, SAID LEVER BEING ROTATABLE TO ARELEASE POSITION THROUGH A SECTOR IN EXCESS OF NINETY DEGREES BRINGINGSAID CAM MEMBER TO RELEASE POSITION; A LEVER-BIASING HELICAL SPRINGSURROUNDING SAID SHAFT AND HAVING ONE END THEREOF SECURELY ENGAGING THEDISCONTINUITY OF SAID SHAFT, THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID SPRING ENGAGINGTHE SAID LEVER URGING THE SAID LEVER TO THE SAID NORMAL POSITIONTHEREOF; AND A CAM-BIASING HELICAL SPRING SURROUNDING SAID SHAFT ANDHAVING ONE END THEREOF SECURELY ENGAGING THE DISCONTINUITY OF SAIDSHAFT, THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID SPRING ENGAGING THE SAID CAM MEMBERURGING SAID CAM MEMBER IN THE DIRECTION OF ROTATION OF SAID LEVER TOWARDSAID RELEASE POSITION, ONE OF SAID STOP MEANS POSITIONING SAID CAMMEMBER AGAINST THE ACTION OF SAID CAM SPRING AT SAID SELECTED ANGULARPOSITION WHEN SAID LEVER IS AT SAID NORMAL POSITION; THE SAID SECTOR OFFREEDOM OF MOVEMENT OF SAID CAM MEMBER WITH RESPECT TO SAID LEVER BEINGSELECTED TO PROVIDE FOR SUFFICIENT ROTATION OF SAID CAM MEMBER TOPROVIDE CLEARANCE FOR THE ENGAGEMENT OF SAID ABUTMENTS WITHOUTSUBSTANTIAL ROTATION OF SAID LEVER FROM THE SAID NORMAL POSITTIONTHEREOF.